Albany loves a good party, and Monday night’s birthday party for our nation’s independence was a celebration that was attended by a huge crowd.

With a live band playing for two hours prior to a professionally staged fireworks show, many of those in attendance at the Clinton County Fairgrounds were on hand for well over two hours.

When the nearly 30 minute long fireworks show came to an end, loud cheers of approval and horn blowing erupted from the crowd at the fairgrounds and the surrounding area.

This year’s fifth annual fireworks got underway Monday night, July 4, 2011 and according to Albany/Clinton County Chamber of Commerce President Mike Davis, it was one of the biggest crowds on hand for the event.

“I thought it was fantastic,” Davis said. “I was really happy people came out early to listen to the band and get food before the fireworks.”

Melrose Pyrotechnics Inc. was responsible for the fireworks show, but a host of other people came together to aid in parking vehicles, selling food, and making the event a success.

“It seems like everybody had a good time. I have heard suggestions, which I asked for, and we are going to take those to heart and try to improve on that for next year. The fireworks were better than I expected for this year and Backroom Band was awesome.”

During the event, the concessions were handled by the Clinton County Volleyball team.

“The Volley Dawgs did a great job on the concessions,” Davis said. “I was impressed by the way all the parents and the kids helped.”

Davis said they don’t have an approximate number for people who attended the fireworks show, but he stated he quit counting after 300 cars had filled into the fairgrounds.

“We stopped at 300 cars,” Davis said. “The parking lot was absolutely full. By talking with people who had been there in the past, we think it was one of our biggest crowds.”

While the fairgrounds was the location that most viewed the fireworks show from, vehicles also filled the parking lot of nearby Thoroughbred Houseboats while others watched the show from the streets of Albany. Many others were able to see the fireworks from their homes or the homes of family and friends who live in the vicinity of the fairgrounds.

The fireworks show was not only viewed by local people, there were also out of town visitors who were either already on vacation or came specifically for the show.

“I saw license plates from Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Illinois … there were people from numerous states who came for the fireworks,” Davis said.

Davis said the event couldn’t have taken place without the help of the sponsors, Albany Fire Department and the Clinton County Fair Board. Other sponsors include; Mayor Nicky Smith and the Albany City Council, Industrial Development Authority, Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, Barrett Oil, Monticello Banking Company, First & Farmers National Bank, Equity Group – Kentucky Division, Albany Building Center, Daymar College, Quick Mart Shell, Clinton County News, WANY, and South Kentucky RECC.

“The fire department said they raised some pretty good money, so people were real generous,” Davis said.

Next year’s event is already on the schedule and the Chamber of Commerce is looking to extend the event and maybe add even more activities to the July 4th celebration.

“With seeing that people did want to come early, I think we will extend the event, so if anybody has any ideas on what we could do, please contact me or any other member of the chamber board,” Davis said.

A huge crowd spent Monday afternoon and evening enjoying the annual Albany – Clinton County Chamber of Commerce fireworks show at the fairgrounds. Shown here are two photographs of the nearly 30 minute long fireworks show, including a “time-lapse” image at top left of a series of separate explosions. In the smaller two photos, these two fans found different ways to enjoy the summer afternoon while waiting on the show. Maci Kaye Tucker, 5, put on her own fireworks show with some sparklers, while Christopher Brummett, also 5, spent some time blowing bubbles.